ordons for antiquity or distinction.

"I think your father was 'at the horn' mair nor yince himsel', mither,"
said I, remembering certain daffing talk of my father's.

"Aye, and that is just as true," said my mother, reconciling herself to
her position, "forbye it is weel kenned that the wife aye wears the
cockade of her lord."

And at the word I thought of my Lady of Lochinvar, and hearkened to Wat
talking low to Kate McGhie. But as for me I kept my mother by my side,
and left Maisie Lennox to herself, remembering the fifth
commandment--and knowing likewise that it would please Maisie best if I
took care of my mother.

Thus we came to Cove Macaterick.

Now the cove upon the hillside is not wet and chill as almost all sea
caves are, where the water stands on the floor and drips from every
crevice. But it was at least fairly dry, if not warm, and had been
roughly laid with bog-wood dug from the flowes, not squared at all, but
only filled in with heather tops till the floor was elastic like the
many-plied carpets of Whitehall.

There was, as I have said, an inner and an outer cave, one opening out
of the other, each apartment being about sixteen feet every way, but
much higher towards the roof. And so it remained till late years, when,
as I hear from the herd of the Shalloch, the rocks of the gairy face
have settled more down upon themselves, and so have contracted the
space. But the cave remains to this day on the Back Hill of the Star
over the waters of Loch Macaterick. And the place is still very lonely.
Only the whaups, the ernes, and the mountain sheep cry there, even as
they did in our hiding times.

We gave the inner (and higher) room to the women folk, and divided the
space with a plaid hung up at the stone steps which formed a doorway.

We found Anton Lennox much recovered, but still very weak and pale. He
sat propped up on his heather bed against the side of the cave. His
countenance appeared stern and warlike, even when it was too dark to
see, as it mostly was, his great sword leaning against the wall by his
side.

I need not tell of the joy there was when Maisie Lennox greeted her
father, and we that had been so wide scattered drew together once again.
But as soon as I had told Wat of the happenings at the hut of Corp-licht
Kate, nothing would serve him but we must set out and try to intercept
the witch from fulfilling her mission. For if she brought the soldiers
upon us, our trail from the bower am